Treatment of New Posters/Members

[penfold93]

In a recent new thread, a new member of the goat asked a reasonable question about a quite serious subject, her husband had failed his fitness test and was/had received a formal warning. She is possibly unfamiliar with Service rules and regulations and was seeking advice and help.

What she got was a bunch of self-righteous idiots spouting off and generally being rude and abusive, and now the Goat has possibly lost another member and when she tells her friends/husband etc then we may have lost more potential goaters.

This person asked a question in the Shop Floor section and NOT the crewroom so did she really deserve such harsh treatment?

We all know the importance being placed on the fitness test but there are a huge number of reasons why someone cannot pass/take the FT and without actually speaking to the OP and her husband then some of the responses were uncalled for.

PLEASE can you engage your brain before you enter keyboard warrior mode and get your kicks by abusing posters

1. Check the area the post is in.
2. See how many posts they have.
3. Read the whole thread not just one or two post
4. If you cannot be constructive dont post but if you really get off on it dont be suprised when your post gets deleted.

There have been a number of comments wrt the Goat 'not being funny anymore' or its stagnating. Is it little wonder when new posters/members are mauled as soon as they post.

If its in the Pigs Bar then fairs fair but anywhere else then please take the time to construct a useful response or dont bother

 

[Stewie]

Good one mate, one of the reasons I dont bother much anymore, well said.

 

[Webbo]

About time a MOD spoke out. Totally agree. DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Odie]

Well said Penfold. DT_Xtremez_30: Regrettably there are too many people who, on some subjects, only see in black and white and miss the various shades that being pragmatic bring. DT_Xtremez_21:

 

[230Tiger]

Here, here Penfold.
It's one of the reasons I stopped posting a long time ago, I don't even bother looking that much anymore.
It's not just new posters either, it seems that for quite a while now virtually all the threads have just degenerated into a general slagging match. Members are vilified if they make one spelling mistake, if they dare to have an opinion that differs from one or two of the more prolific posters or if they are not fully conversant with Q.R's.
This forum used to be a good laugh but it's just turned into one big fight club (no comments about the rules of the fight club please!!)

 

[mememe]

Here, here Penfold.
It's one of the reasons I stopped posting a long time ago, I don't even bother looking that much anymore.
It's not just new posters either, it seems that for quite a while now virtually all the threads have just degenerated into a general slagging match. Members are vilified if they make one spelling mistake, if they dare to have an opinion that differs from one or two of the more prolific posters or if they are not fully conversant with Q.R's.
This forum used to be a good laugh but it's just turned into one big fight club (no comments about the rules of the fight club please!!)

One of the best post I have seen in ages. I have posted this before and true to form I was shot down. We should also remember that the MODs themselves generate such ill feeling by their self righteous approach to posters not just us mear mortals. I stand-by for the in coming. Perhaps Pen, closer policing of the MODs would help too.

 

[gemarriott]

OK I'll set myself up to be shot at here.

I do agree with much of what Penfold says but not with respect to the particular thread he said it about. I have read, re-read and read it again and unless some posts have been removed I can find very little other than one particular post from a member with only 9 posts under his belt to complain about, especially from a modding angle.

This particular subject has been discussed several times and the posts follow a pattern to be expected when all those serving have to undergo the same tests. The poster was not abused, was not sworn at, was given good information. The posters did not go off topic.

To have stepped in to change or remove any of the posts would have been censorship not moderation and I am not a censor.

 

[chiprafp]

One of the best post I have seen in ages. I have posted this before and true to form I was shot down. We should also remember that the MODs themselves generate such ill feeling by their self righteous approach to posters not just us mear mortals. I stand-by for the in coming. Perhaps Pen, closer policing of the MODs would help too.

Hmm a very general post that uses stereotyping quite well. I wont bother to argue the toss as I am sure most posters take each person on their own merits and dont feel the need to make this about Mods, who after all are just members too, that give up some of their free time to help the Goat exist.

As I have mentioned in the past if you have a problem with a moderator then please bring it up with a member of the admin staff instead of waging a war of words from the keyboard directed at all Mods.

 

[wgaf]

One of the best post I have seen in ages. I have posted this before and true to form I was shot down. We should also remember that the MODs themselves generate such ill feeling by their self righteous approach to posters not just us mear mortals. I stand-by for the in coming. Perhaps Pen, closer policing of the MODs would help too.

Just to help us on the mod team can you give examples please?

 

[RAF Bird]

Too true Penfold. Too many of us (I say us because I know I have been guilty of it in the past as well) are quick to jump on people when they are only after a bit of advice. They're not after sympathy as we all know where to find that in the dictionary but neither are they after a bashing just for asking for some information. The instance Penfold used is just one of many out there so there is no point really trying to justify that thread as we could be here all day listing more threads where it has happened.

 

[penfold93]

OK I'll set myself up to be shot at here.

I do agree with much of what Penfold says but not with respect to the particular thread he said it about. I have read, re-read and read it again and unless some posts have been removed I can find very little other than one particular post from a member with only 9 posts under his belt to complain about, especially from a modding angle.

This particular subject has been discussed several times and the posts follow a pattern to be expected when all those serving have to undergo the same tests. The poster was not abused, was not sworn at, was given good information. The posters did not go off topic.

To have stepped in to change or remove any of the posts would have been censorship not moderation and I am not a censor.

Sorry Gem I have to disagree, when you get told in no uncertain terms that your husband is a fat knacker that was OMO being abusive, the OP had asked for information and help and for the most it was either people correcting other posters and it was only later that individuals came in with constructive advice and explanations.

As to the dig at the Mods, maybe you are right but in the same breath why do we get so much of a hard time when we voice our opinions that may clash with anothers and then we argue our point we get accused of abusing our powers etc etc. We as Mods are members too and if we didnt do the job we do then the site would have ended years ago.

This is not a Mod vs Members thread, this is an attempt to keep the goat fun, informative and above all ours.

I would like to see this site attracting more new members and possibly get some of the older members back onside.

A lot of this is just my opinion by the way this is not a moderator led assault and some of my fellow mods may disagree, but isnt that true for many things.

 

[AllWoman]

Penfold I think you are right about some of the treatment of new members but it isn't always just new members who get treated that way at times, although at times it is warranted with daft questions where the information is freely available if they just look in the right places on the net or intranet and with the use the search button on the Goat.

As for the mods, this is an old subject that seems to get brought up time and time again. If you have a problem with a Mod then why not take it up with said mod at the time via PM, they are more than happy to explain their actions on the whole(yes I have had issues in the past with them).

At the end of the day without the mods there would be no EGoat and I don't think any of us want that. On the whole they do a good job with precious little thanks and sometimes under very difficult circumstances. They are human and sometimes make mistakes ffs don't we all. Don't turn this into another modbbashing thread because its unwarranted and quite frankly boring!

 

[MontyPlumbs]

As a new mod myself, I fail to see what benefits the 'us and them' culture brings to the Goat. At the end of the day, this forum relies on all of us, from the admins to the guy with only 1 post. It is the variety and diversity of this site that makes it unique.

I've had many disagreements with people over the years, new members, established members, moderators etc but at the end of the day I make sure my posts and general behaviour stay within the site rules (sometimes my halo slips!)

It seems to be a disgruntled minority who modbash as it's the same posters, surely if you have a problem with a specific moderator or their actions you can report their post just like any other member? Moderators are members too, and until the minority realise this then we will continue to have a problem.

I've had my blood pressure raised to boiling point over the years, but at the end of the day the arguments and banter are what makes the Goat what it is.

On the flip side, I always believe in the mantra 'know your audience'. A new member, the spouse of a serviceman does not deserve to have her quite serious question dumbed down with 'man up' or 'get on with it' type posts. However, if this had been posted by an overweight liney maybe would should have been directing them towards the dictionary to search for sympathy! DT_Xtremez_14:

All I would suggest is people think a little more about what they are replying to, and stop using a blanket 'modbash' as the root cause of all the sites ills.

Just my twopence worth.

MP

 

[SepticCalling]

Well done, as a fairly new member a while back, I decided that I would donate a sum via standing order every month. I realised that in no way would it give any extra privelege on this forum. However, when I once made what I thought was a valid comment, I was was treated to abuse and ridicule. Net result was E-Goat does not receive any more dosh from me!

 

[Shugster]

Maybe we should all be a bit more helpful to the new faces on here for the first few weeks at least.

When I came here it was the first non - engineering forum I had joined, I thought as I was ex mob I knew the score. But it took a while to find my feet and more importantly what goes and what doesn't.

OK, if someone deliberately goes out of their way to be offensive without provocation then they can expect a barrage of abuse, but for questions that appear to be daft to us is not really a reason to stick the boot in.

Just my €0.02 worth! DT_Xtremez_26:

 

[POW]

I think at least twice before i post these days as i have been abused due to my bad spelling and i am ex RAF.

 

[FOMz]

My spullings is carp, but spelling nazi's are hopefully a thing of the past.

Saying that though - I do use this now......

 

[RockapeRob64]

Unfortunately thats the ARRSE effect........you are always going to get people that are willing to engage their gobs before they engage what brains they may or may not possess.

The end result will be that all the people that want to make e-goat a successful meeting place for serving and non-serving RAF will **** off elsewhere and e-goat will die.

And yes i'm new but i'm a grown man an ex-rock and I can stand up on my own two feet.

 

[The Masked Geek]

ex-rock

Does that confer some sort of super power? DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[RockapeRob64]

Does that confer some sort of super power? DT_Xtremez_14:

all Rocks have superpower.....thats why we wear green shreddies on the outside of our DPM